Environmental groups protest

Lansing - The Capitol roared to life Wednesday morning with the angry buzz of chain saw-wielding environmental activists.The groups gathered on the west Capitol lawn to protest what they deemed the "systematic destruction of the national forests" under the Bush administration.Representatives of the Public Interest Research Group in Michigan, the National Forest Protection Alliance, the Sierra Club and the Alaska Coalition were on hand for the demonstration, which included a "21-chain saw salute." Kelly Dettmer, an Ann Arbor research group member, led the coalition's chain saw salute with three cries of "Timber," after which seven chain saws were raised and revved.Activists said they were upset about The Healthy Forest Restoration Initiative.

Expo offers free water screening for visitors

Visitors to the MSU Ag Expo can have their water tested for nitrate and triazine content at a free screening July 22-24. The Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program will conduct the testing.

Extension to educate on crop management

MSU Extension is sponsoring a Crop Management and Field Diagnostic School from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. July 25 at the MSU plant pathology field lab, 3751 College Road.

Police briefs 07/02/03

Fire station unveiled in Delta Twp.

Delta Township - Residents of Delta Township celebrated 50 years of fire fighting Saturday as they opened the new Central Fire Station. The opening of the Delta Township Central Fire Station, 811 N.

Faculty member leaves 'U' to teach in Germany

A MSU faculty member will be leaving the green and white when she takes off for Berlin in September. Mei Zhuang, an associate professor of mechanical engineering, was named a Fulbright Senior Scholar and will live in Germany for 10 months, teaching and researching at the Technische Universitat Berlin. Her research will focus on developing computational aeroacoustics tools to be used in the noise prediction systems of turbofan engines.

E.L. library offers free overdue returns in July

East Lansing residents can stop putting off returning those overdue library books. It's amnesty month at the East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbott Road. Until July 31, all library patrons returning materials - no matter how late they are - will not have to pay any late fines.

Residents give blood to ease crisis

Lansing - Sharing an egg salad sandwich beneath a cluster of red, white and blue balloons, Audrey Myers and Pearl Shade discuss the patriotic decorations in the American Red Cross building. Together they have donated nearly 100 pints of blood, and on Monday the two volunteered to go under the needle once again at the Great Lakes Region Blood Services Donor Room, 1800 E.

Leadership program offers public office training

Any Michigan resident who is eligible to run for office can pick up an application to participate in MSU's Michigan Political Leadership Program. The 10-month program offers 24 leadership training fellowships.

Red Cross declares blood shortage emergency

With a shortage of blood supply levels in the state, the Great Lakes Region of the American Red Cross is hoping to gain donors before the onset of the Fourth of July weekend. The region, which provides blood to 70 hospitals and 63 counties throughout the state, has declared a blood emergency to their corresponding hospitals and counties, which only have a 36-hour supply of blood left.

Credit union creates study abroad fund

When religious studies senior Marie Shepherd took off for a study abroad program last summer, she figured she had enough cash to get by for the next six weeks. But after her Italian Language, Literature and Culture program in Florence, Italy, finished, Shepherd found her wallet empty. But a $2.5-million donation to the MSU Study Abroad program could help students such as Shepherd cover the cost of an education outside of East Lansing. The MSU Federal Credit Union donated the money for the MSUFCU Study Abroad Scholarship, which awards qualified students with $500 to $2,000 for any of the programs offered by MSU, said Inge Steglitz, assistant director of MSU Study Abroad. In the 2001-02 academic year 1,819 MSU students participated in study abroad programs, she said. "It ensures students from every part of the class can take an opportunity to study abroad," said Lou Anna Simon, MSU Interim President In April students participating in study abroad accompanied university officials to meet with the credit union board, Simon said. "We really sold this idea by taking the students," she said, adding they were able to give firsthand experience about how study abroad affected their college experience. Although there are several scholarships available through the program, Shepherd says she didn't apply for any because she was under the impression she would be able to afford her trip to Italy.

Police briefs 06/30/03

Board approves lighting project, building renovations

Construction and endowment projects were issues at the MSU Board of Trustees' last summer meeting. Although Trustee Colleen McNamara was the only trustee able to physically attend the Friday meeting, the other seven trustees chimed in their votes through a teleconferencing system.

Downtown stores to host summer sidewalk sale

Students and residents looking for a bargain this weekend can visit downtown East Lansing. The East Lansing Merchants Group hosts its annual sidewalk sale today through Saturday. Downtown merchants will display their store sale items outside of their businesses. "We're doing half-off all housewares," said Jill Repasky, Urban Outfitters store manager.

Officials to study phone-related crashes

States are being encouraged by highway officials to report when crashes are caused by distracted drivers. The Governors Highway Safety Association is issuing a new report called the Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria that police officers will be able to use when writing reports for car accidents that were caused by distracted drivers.

Federal funding dependent on law

Michigan lawmakers are looking to place stricter penalties on drunken drivers in an effort to increase safety on Michigan roads, but some feel the policy-making is only a response to pressure from the federal government. Two bills, unanimously passed in the state House, lower the blood alcohol level for drunken driving from .10 to .08 grams and stiffen penalties for drivers found to have a blood alcohol level of .15 grams or more. If the bills are not passed by Sept.

Truckers help police identify drunken drivers

Almost 900 commercial truck drivers will act as eyes for police in a drunken driving campaign. The program, "Night Owls," will employ Michigan truck drivers to help police identify highway drivers under the influence from Friday to July 13.

Trustees to discuss upgrades

Installing energy-saving light fixtures, renovating the Physics-Astronomy Building and engineering a livestock research facility are some of the issues up for discussion at the MSU Board of Trustees meeting Friday. About half of the university's fluorescent lights will be replaced with high efficient lighting if the board approves the project, said Bob Nestle, university engineer.

AIDS network to provide free tests

Lansing - Communities across the nation will be extending knowledge and insight about HIV and AIDS as part of National HIV Test Day on Friday.

Police briefs 06/25/03